• New Aer Lingus service will fly three times per week to Bordeaux - the world’s wine capital and a renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• New service offers direct access to the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, famous for its wine production, historic castles and chateaux, idyllic coastal resorts, and the amazing Atlantic coastline.
• Bordeaux is the second of Aer Lingus’ new routes from Cork Airport to start this summer with the new service to Bilbao performing strongly to date.
• New route will come as a further boost to inbound tourism with France being Ireland’s fourth-largest source market for visitors.

Cork Airport — May 15, 2025 — It’s time to say “bonjour” to elegant boulevards, quaint cafés, amazing architecture, world-class museums, vast vineyards, historic castles and chateaux, idyllic coastal resorts and golden Atlantic beaches as Aer Lingus’ inaugural flight to Bordeaux departed from Cork Airport today. Flight EI818 took off shortly after 12:30 this afternoon, connecting Cork with one of France’s most iconic cities. To celebrate the occasion, passengers travelling on the first flight had the opportunity to indulge in some French cuisine before boarding, as they were treated to mini croissants and other delicacies.

As the sixth largest city in France, the new Aer Lingus service to Bordeaux offers direct connectivity with the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, home to some of the world’s finest vineyards including those at St. Emillion and the Médoc. A little further north is the département of Charente, home to Cognac, while to the west is the expansive Atlantic coastline and the idyllic seaside resorts of Arcachon, Carcans and Andernos-les-Bains.

Bordeaux as a city is the perfect location for a short break, offering much to see and do. Visitors can learn about the region’s world-class wine production at La Cité du Vin, a remarkable museum in the shape of a wine decanter. Cathédrale St-André is one of the oldest cathedrals in France, dating back to 1096 while the “Miroir d’Eau” is the world’s largest reflecting pool, situated on the riverside opposite the magnificent Palais de la Bouse. For art aficionados, la Musée des Beaux Arts is home to some amazing artworks dating from the Renaissance period and for history buffs, la Musée d’Aquitaine offers the opportunity to appreciate the heritage of the area, from the Roman era through to the present day.

The wider Bordeaux metropolitan area is home to 1.4 million people and this new route will offer “Bordelais” visitors an opportunity to fly directly to Ireland’s scenic south, the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland’s Ancient East and Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands. According to Tourism Ireland, France is Ireland’s fourth-largest source market for inbound tourism and research showed that in 2023, 16% of French visitors to Ireland originated from south-west France. Tourism Ireland research also notes that after Dublin, the south-west region of Ireland was the second most popular destination for French visitors, with 8-in-10 seeking to explore historical or cultural sites.

Celebrating the inaugural Aer Lingus Cork – Bordeaux service, Head of Aviation Business Development & Communications at Cork Airport, Tara Finn said: “Bordeaux is one of France’s most iconic cities. We are thrilled to offer direct access to Bordeaux city and wider Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. There is so much to see and do in this amazing city – including learning about the region’s world-famous wine production, wandering amongst the quaint boulevards and squares, or simply soaking in the essence of continental café culture.”

Reid Moody, Chief Strategy and Planning Officer at Aer Lingus, added: " Aer Lingus today launches a brand-new route from Cork to Bordeaux, offering another popular European destination for customers in the south of Ireland to explore. Following the success of our Cork to Bilbao route which took off last month, the addition of Bordeaux, renowned for its culture, world-class wines and rich history, is a popular destination for Irish travellers. As a gateway to the south of France, Bordeaux is the perfect addition to our summer schedule, promising unforgettable experiences for customers seeking a European adventure.”